After Houstonian Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a traffic stop on July 7, citizens immediately responded with public outcry, calls for an independent investigation, and questions about ICE operations. Salgado Araujo lived in Houston for 35 years and raised three children here. He worked in construction and had no criminal record.
Mayor Whitmire stressed during a July 8 council meeting that the Houston Police Department (HPD) was not involved in the incident. He called for “a transparent, independent investigation,” but emphasized that “there cannot be two ongoing investigations,” implying that HPD could not investigate because a federal investigation is already underway.
More than 100 people spoke at the City Council public comment session on July 14, many demanding a local, independent investigation. A demonstration outside City Hall could be heard from inside the council chamber. The next day, Mayor Whitmire and several councilmembers criticized citizens’ decorum, saying they disrespected the Salgado Araujo family and that some were even “using this tragedy for political purposes.” At-Large 2 Councilmember Willie Davis also called speakers disrespectful and “ungodly,” and accused them of “political grandstanding.”
When District J Councilmember Edward Pollard pushed for more action from the city, Mayor Whitmire accused Pollard of playing politics as well but later shared details about the ongoing investigation led by Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare. Whitmire said his office has provided Teare with evidence they wouldn’t have otherwise, such as a 911 call from the scene and footage from a METRO bus. Whitmire said the Department of Homeland Security controls the evidence collected, but he maintained that the city is in close contact with federal representatives and is aiding DA Teare’s investigation whenever possible.
At the July 21 public comment session, Mayor Whitmire deemed around a dozen commenters so disruptive that he cleared the chamber. Two people were detained by HPD but not arrested. The following day, Whitmire said he hoped that “Congress can get control of ICE” by implementing training, uniforms, marked cars, and body cameras. He insisted that the city is doing “everything they can to assist [the Salgado Araujo family] in this time of sorrow.” He’s asked people to respect the family’s privacy.